Ft. Smith FOIA Town Hall Meeting, Thur. Feb. 15, 2024
Joey McCutchen Jimmie Cavin
cell # 479-806-4878 cell # 501-412-9520
jmccutchen@mccutchenlawfirm.com jimmie.cavin@yahoo.com
Please contact Joey or Jimmy to have them come to your city or town for a much needed FOIA meeting.
Here’s their Press Release:
On February 15th, 2024, Joey McCutchen and Jimmie Cavin will host a public Town Hall meeting to discuss the Arkansas FOIA Constitutional Amendment and Initiated Act.
The meeting begins at 6:00 pm at The Fort Smith Senior Activity Center, 2700 Cavanaugh Road, Fort Smith, AR 72908. McCutchen and Cavin are longtime FOIA warriors who are constantly fighting across the state on behalf of its citizens. McCutchen and Cavin will discuss the signature gathering organizational process and how citizens can help. The public is encouraged to attend!
The Arkansas Government Disclosure Amendment of 2024 and the Arkansas Government Disclosure Act are ballot initiatives that together will enshrine the citizens’ right to government transparency in our state Constitution. Signatures in the petition campaign must be turned in by July 5th, 2024, in order for the proposed initiated act to make it to the November ballot.
The initiated act will empower citizens, foster government transparency, and safeguard the public’s right to access public records. Among its key provisions, the Act establishes a strong definition of a public meeting which will require members of governing bodies to discuss public business in public rather than behind closed doors. The initiated act also gives FOIA teeth by allowing citizens to recover legal fees if they are forced to sue governing bodies to enforce their rights under FOIA, as well as give courts the authority to issue civil penalties against government bodies that don’t comply with a records request. The proposal also calls for the creation of a state commission to assist citizens with their records requests.
Along with the initiated act, the proposed Constitutional Amendment will create a right to government transparency, enshrine the citizens’ right to know in our state constitution and will make it more difficult for the legislature to weaken our FOIA laws by requiring support from a two-thirds majority in the Legislature for changes that would only take effect after approval by the votes through a statewide referendum. Importantly, the amendment will also take away the State’s sovereign immunity in cases involving government transparency. Together, the Constitutional Amendment and Act will set the gold standard for government transparency nationwide.
Jimmie Cavin, a member of the Arkansas Citizens for Transparency Group stated, “The Act will protect citizens’ interests in government transparency and punish government officials who violate those interests with stiff personal financial penalties.” Cavin is also a member of the Arkansas Citizens for Transparency Ballot Question Committee.
McCutchen said, “It’s past time that this 2-pronged citizen driven initiative get out of the hands of politicians and restore the power to the people where it belongs. We are excited to have begun the process of gathering signatures to get the initiatives on the ballot in November. In Arkansas, the People Rule, as our motto proudly says.”
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